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The day had started out as a normal one for Rockcatcher. She made the obligatory pass around town before settling into watcher duty outside the main door of the Egg Home. Beaksharp was paired with her, and other trustworthy ninth-floods were stationed at the higher entrances. Rockcatcher approved. Now was not the time for few-floods to be at important posts.
The watcher’s attention was caught by the flash of cheerful colors that was a second-flood chasing his large Biteless. Rockcatcher’s scales prickled with disapproving colors around her armor, but she didn’t berate the youngster. He hadn’t scattered anyone’s groceries yet, and appeared to be slowing down. She looked away when the chase stopped.
=Good, he’s going up to play catch at the surface,= Beaksharp said in tart greens. =There’s less to bump into up there.=
Rockcatcher agreed, and turned back to watching for alerts. Soon a squad of eggtenders were speeding her way in careful fashion, with bright colors and egg baskets marking them for all to see. Passersby got out of their way. The watchers came to attention. With a salute and a polite hello, Rockcatcher and Beaksharp let them past.
Another successful retrieval without any sign of predators. It was commendable, though any predator that would risk stealing eggs from an us-home this big was surely damaged in the head. But the warriors needed to keep watch anyway, in case there were other dangers.
=Is that child playing too close to the Egg Home?= Beaksharp asked, looking upwards. =I don’t like the direction his Biteless is going.=
Rockcatcher followed her partner’s pointed finger, and she agreed. =He probably won’t hurt anything, but it’s not respectful or safe,= she said. =The team up top should be warning him off soon.=
They did, with no-nonsense colors and gestures to swim back the other way. But to Rockcatcher’s surprise, she watched the youngster approach the guards in colors of agitation. His Biteless swam in urgent circles beside him.
=What’s he saying?= Rockcatcher asked, and her partner strained his eyes. It was a long way up.
=I think the child saw something on the surface,= Beaksharp said, unimpressed. =Maybe a type of air-swimmer he’s never seen before.=
Rockcatcher observed the guards up top. One was swimming to the surface for a better look. He almost disappeared from view in the seasonal mud that plagued visibility here, then he darted back with alarming haste.
=It looks important,= Rockcatcher decided. =You keep the post. I’m going up.=
Beaksharp didn’t argue, only suggesting that she hurry back. Rockcatcher wasted no time in powering upwards with her spear held close. When she passed other watchposts, she swam in colors of minor alert, and one watcher from each pair soon kicked up their tails after her. Each carried a spear and wore stunpods holstered in easy reach. Rockcatcher checked her own out of habit as she swam. Ready and fresh.
Halfway to the top, she met a guard coming down the other way, calling for backup. The growing crowd sped to the surface.
Once there, they found a cluster of warriors peering up into the air, looking at something atop the cliff. Rockcatcher joined the others in raising her face above the water to see.
=What are those?= she asked, and no one had a good answer. There were certainly lots of the creatures, all lined up along the edge and staring down at the us-home. Rockcatcher didn’t like the view they were getting.
=Are they holding weapons?= someone asked. =Those things they keep pointing at us?=
=I don’t know, but we’re going to warn them away,= decided someone with rank. =You, you, and you I’ve seen hunt air-swimmers with skill; come with me. Anyone else who thinks they can spear one, this way. The rest of you make sure no one wanders into the drop zone.=
The guards scattered to do as the leader said, keeping the curious onlookers out of danger. Rockcatcher joined the spear squad. She was a fair shot at awkward angles. It was a pity that the interlopers were too far to reach with stunpods, but that was certainly also a good thing. They would pose a much greater danger if they were closer.
Once the area was clear, and it was confirmed that the spying creatures were still there, the spearthrowers lined up in ranks. Rockcatcher held her spear at the ready just below the surface, and took a deep breath. She watched the leader.
=On my mark,= he said. =Now ready, and ... mark!=
Warriors exploded out of the water, launching spears at the cliffside and the unwelcome creatures looking down on their home.